Fast Isoprene Sensor

Hills-Scientific is pleased to offer the Fast Isoprene Sensor (FIS) to the research community. Fast Isoprene Sensors in use worldwide provide continuous isoprene monitoring from <1 ppb in atmospheric studies to ppm levels in biological and medical research.

The sensors are used in chamber and cuvette studies as continuous monitors supporting fundamental photosynthetic and process research. They routinely measure atmospheric isoprene and have been used for many years in eddy-covariance flux studies.

The FIS is based on chemiluminescence. Isoprene/ozone chemiluminescence measurement is extremely sensitive as the reaction has a high quantum efficiency for light production in addition to the light appearing on a near-zero background and since single-photon counting detection is used in all our instruments.

Custom LabVIEW software controls the photon counting and displays the chemiluminescence signal and isoprene concentration (ppb) in real-time as well as archiving the data. The FIS signal is linear over all typical measurement regimes (4 orders-of-magnitude concentration range) allowing simple data interpretation and easy one or two point calibration.

A microprocessor controller automatically zeros and calibrates the instrument on a user defined schedule using ultra-clean pneumatically controlled valving. Electronic mass-flow controllers control all gas flows and monitor reaction cell pressure. Flows, pressure, and instrument status signals are available as outputs.

The instruments are designed using 3-D CAD and housed in custom 6061 chassis boxes which are fabricated to mil-spec and powder-coated. Graphics are then silk screened on using epoxy paint. In short, every detail of the Fast Isoprene Sensor is designed to deliver high performance in a bombproof and easy to service instrument.

–We build them to last a lifetime–

Features

The Fast Isoprene Sensor is the product of 15 years of continuous development. Every component has been designed and selected for superb performance and rugged durability.

FIS Software

The Fast Isoprene Sensor uses an optical detection system which is controlled through serial communication. Hills-Scientific provides free LabVIEW software to operate the FIS. The software displays the FIS signal and also plots isoprene concentration as a function of time using user settable calibration parameters.
The x-axis (time base) and y-axes (photon counts per second and isoprene concentration), are scalable on-the-fly. It also archives the raw signal and time data in a format usable with Excel and all common analysis software.
The software is available in both executable form (stand alone) and as LabVIEW source code. The source code version can be completely customized for your particular application. The software runs at user selectable rates from 10-Hz (0.1 second integration) for eddy covariance applications to the longer integrations appropriate for growth chamber research (1-10 seconds or longer). All FIS software is complimentary and available on CD, or via e-mail or FTP transfer.

References

Eddy covariance measurement of isoprene fluxes (PDF), Alex Guenther and Alan Hills (used an early version of the Fast Isoprene Sensor)